Advice on Aging Well With HIV

From TheBody.com

7/10

Dab Garner, 50, Wilton Manors, Fla.; Diagnosed in 1982

The first thing I would advise is to educate yourself about HIV, the medications and Ryan White funding and services. The more you understand each of these items, the better you will be able to live with HIV. Whether you learn to be an advocate for your own health care or to help our HIV/AIDS community on a city, state or national level, education is key to survival.

Next, you need to know it is imperative to continue practicing safer sex, even if your sexual partners are also HIV positive. Not only can you potentially catch other strains of HIV, you do not want to complicate your life with other STDs.
It is also very important to find a health care provider who you can work with toward health goals. It is essential to be totally honest with your physician about your body so they know when and how to treat issues as they arise as well as recommend preventive strategies.

Comment by: Lucie Vogel
(big spring Tx)
Wed., Mar. 25, 2015 at 4:50 am EDT
A support network is vital to keeping a positive optimistic and thankful as well as hopeful outlook on life.Because of my faith in believing that this is not a curse but a blessing in disguise that I was blessed with my beautiful baby girl at 13yrs positive who is still negative and always will be at age 7.I just turned 50 and by grace am still going strong,also because I am constantly touched by others in my life who have more serious and aggressive illnesses and handicaps and I am amazed everyday and grateful that my family can be used to give hope to those who need to know and see that life that God given life by grace to still be able to bring forth a healthy life is a mind blowing concept,is proof that there is an all powerful and loving God who is in the business of making beauty from the ashes and using others to show His love for us by their love and support they show us.Thank you all for your tips and your bravery and fearlessness in sharing your stories publicly

Comment by: Rajiv
(India)
Wed., Oct. 17, 2012 at 2:43 am EDT
sir,
i m 25 y old recently diagnosed as H since then i m depressd and most o the time i starts weeping. i searched on internet and heard from people that HIV IS NOT CURABLE & ends only with the death of patient.
if Timothy Brown a Berlin patient can be cured(HIV Neg.)why can't other patient.
i wanna know how long will it take when this dreaded disease able to cure permanently.
why medical scientist not applying that treatment or therapy which took by Timothy Brown.
i wanna know which that therapy was actually.
Thanks & Regards
Rajiv hoping for life.

Comment by: Gustavo
(Oakland, CA)
Mon., Nov. 25, 2013 at 4:23 pm ESTRajiv. Be positive. This is the only way to survive and move on in our lives. I got diagnosed HIV+ just one month ago. I am learning from other how they survived. Be positive, learn about the virus and how we and our doctors can make a plan to control it. Hope you are well now. God bless your way. Gustavo.

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